A THIEF made off in a car with a four-month-old baby boy strapped in the back seat.

The man jumped into the vehicle after mum Lisa Binks was forced to stop her Peugeot because the road in front of her had been blocked by wheelie bins.

Her young son, Archy, was in the back of the car and Lisa and partner Simon Brown endured 20 minutes of agony as they tried to track it down.

It is thought the bins had been deliberately moved into the road by the thief to force a motorist out of their car.

A resident called police after the thief nearly collided with their car as he sped off.

Simon began phoning relatives to help find his son.

He also phoned Lisa’s mobile, which was in the car, but it had been turned off by the thief.

Simon's brother-in-law, John Hughes, eventually spotted Lisa's abandoned Peugeot 308 on Dee Road, Rainhill, just around the corner from the couple's home.

The thief fled the scene on foot with Lisa's handbag and phone, which had precious photographs of Archy's first Christmas.

Police described the offender as clean-shaven, of slim build and wearing a black wool or fleece hooded top with white lettering on the front and a black baseball cap.

He is thought to have had a short brown crewcut.

Lisa, 39, who grew up in Whiston, said: “Time stopped still when I realised Archy was gone. I felt nothing.

“I was driving home from my mum and dad’s when I spotted the bins in the road.

“I did not want to get out of the car but there was nobody around to help. When I was moving one of the bins, this man appeared.

“He was quite good looking, with brown hair. I looked at him as if to say ' Can you help me?' He then pulled his hoodie up and walked straight past me.

“I then heard the car engine roar and he sped off at high speed.

“I have been having flashbacks at night. I hear the sound of my car roaring off. And I have been crying a lot. I cannot find words to describe how I would feel if Archy was still missing.

“I would like to warn other mums. If the road is blocked, call the police on your mobile and do not get of the car.”

Police are carrying out a forensic examination of Lisa's car.

Simon said: “If we can prevent just one family from avoiding this kind of ordeal, we will be happy.”

A spokesman for Merseyside Police confirmed they were investigating the incident, which happened on Tuesday.

Detective Chief Inspector Lee Turner said: "Thankfully, incidents such as this are rare and even though the car and baby were found a short time later, those few minutes must have been extremely traumatic for the mother of this child.

"I would urge anyone who has any information about this incident to come forward, so we can bring this offender to justice.

"I would also like to remind all residents not to keep their cars running for any reason.

“Always lock your car and remove the keys from the ignition.”

Anyone with any information about the incident is asked to contact police on 0151 777 6881.